Households to be offered £5k grants to replace old boilers for greener heat pumps

Homeowners in England and Wales will be able to apply for £5,000 grants to replace their old boilers with more efficient, low-carbon heating systems, under new government plans to cut emissions. The move aims to reduce the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels and will form part of the government’s £3.9bn Heat and Buildings Strategy. This action would not only help the UK lower its greenhouse gas emissions, but it would also leave the country less exposed to global price spikes. UK households are facing such a spike this winter as energy firms have passed on higher wholesale costs to their customers. This spike has also led to the collapse of 13 energy suppliers - with the latest firm going bust yesterday (18 October). What will happen under the government’s plans? Here are five key things you need to know about the government’s new strategy: What’s been said? Speaking about the plans, Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Recent volatile global gas prices have highlighted the need to double down on our efforts to reduce Britain’s reliance on fossil fuels and move away from gas boilers over the coming decade to protect consumers in the long term. “As the technology improves and costs plummet over the next decade, we expect low carbon heating systems will become the obvious, affordable choice for consumers. “Through our new grant scheme, we will ensure people are able to choose a more efficient alternative in the meantime.” The government’s announcement was greeted positively by many of the UK’s key energy suppliers. Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower, said: “Decarbonising heat is our toughest challenge on the road to Net Zero. With some 23 million UK homes to be converted to low carbon heating by 2050 we need to urgently support the delivery of proven zero carbon technologies, like heat pumps. “Deploying heat pumps at scale will drive costs down dramatically over time, and will create wider economic benefits by promoting the UK supply chain and new skilled jobs. “This is where the scale and ambition of the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be invaluable.” While praising the government for providing “a golden opportunity” for the public and private sector to speed up decarbonisation, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged Downing Street to provide clarity on its plans. CBI chief policy director Matthew Fell added: “Government must now support this valuable work with a clear delivery plan for consumers, businesses and local authorities. “The time is now to accelerate low carbon heat and energy efficiency solutions, grow the number of green jobs across the UK, and further support the government’s net zero ambitions.”